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Wednesday, February 28, 2007

SIX FARMER SUICIDES IN VIDARBHA WHEN FINANCE MINISTER WAS PRESENTING THE INDIAN BUDGETFarm suicide continue in west vidarbha of maharashtra state when union finance minister was presenting the Indian budget taking toll to 88 in feb.07 alone as in last 58 days of 2007 tally of farm suicides goes to158 ad sixfarmers who committed suicides on 28th feb.,20071. Ravindra Keshv Raut Of Khamapur Village In Amaravati2. Sudhakar Nagorao Kohle Of Ralegoan In Yavatmal Distt.3. Suresh Kashiram Banapure Of Village Nandgoanpeth In Amaravti Distt.

4. Gajanan Pandurang Khadase Of Village Panjari In Washim Distt.

5. Vithal Madhav Nikode Of Village Saikheda In Yavatmal

6. Umesh Ramrao Borwal Of Village Belori In Yavatmal

Distress level rural west vidarbha is very high as per Govt. of maharshtra own survey in 8531 villages of 1.7 million families more than 75% farm families are under debt and acute economical problem and govt. maharashtra says more than 434 thousands farm families are in "Q" to commit suicide and this survey was conducted by more 30000 staff and 12 months old after that survey more than 1800 suicides are being listed of maharashtra govt. on their website. Idian budget presented by finance has not even put single word about this national disaster and unprecendanceded farm crisis and Indian govt once again failed to address vidarbha cotton farmers crisis even after economic survey of Indian finance minister has shown serious concern regarding hostile pathetic situation in rural India due failure of farming activity, rural employment, health care ,education and poor infrastructure including financial institute credit outlay,

"this budget is complete road map taking country towards the cooperate farming .not single demand of cotton farmers has not been considered as loan waiver, hike in import duty to cotton and restoration advance bonus system to maharastra farmers has been shown dustbin, this lead to mass suicide in vidarbha as more than 1.7. Million farmers are deep distress and are "Q" to commit suicides as per govt. Maharashtra own official survey", kishor tiwari of vidarbha Jan andolan samiti informed today after studying the so called rural sector budgetary allocations.Indian budget failed to respond to the recommendation of national commission of farmers (NCF) recommendations that farmers in distress needs solution for sustainable farming and proper credit and secondary support of food security, heath care, rural employment and income base farming policy to avoid victimization of innocent poor hostile farmers by MNCs and market forces who controlling all babus in the state and politicians who are having wasted interest.VJAS has decided move with the apposition for solution on vidarbha agrarian crisis in order to stop these farm suicides and will press the demand of complete loan waiver, protection to cotton farmers from highly subsidies American cotton and ban on chemical and GM farming kishor tiwari added.

"this budget is complete road map taking country towards the cooperate farming .not single demand of cotton farmers has not been considered as loan waiver, hike in import duty to cotton and restoration advance bonus system to maharastra farmers has been shown dustbin, this lead to mass suicide in vidarbha as more than 1.7. Million farmers are deep distress and are "Q" to commit suicides as per govt. Maharashtra own official survey", kishor tiwari of vidarbha Jan andolan samiti informed today after studying the so called rural sector budgetary allocations.

Indian budget failed to respond to the recommendation of national commission of farmers (NCF) recommendations that farmers in distress needs solution for sustainable farming and proper credit and secondary support of food security, heath care, rural employment and income base farming policy to avoid victimization of innocent poor hostile farmers by MNCs and market forces who controlling all babus in the state and politicians who are having wasted interest.VJAS has decided move with the apposition for solution on vidarbha agrarian crisis in order to stop these farm suicides and will press the demand of complete loan waiver, protection to cotton farmers from highly subsidies American cotton and ban on chemical and GM farming kishor tiwari added.

There is no sign of suicides abating in the killing field of Vidarbha! Twelve more farmers have ended their lives in last 48 hours, according to reports reaching in Nagpur on Tuesday. With the deaths of 12 more farmers the toll has now reach 79 this month while the figure touched 149 this year. Three suicides were reported in Amravati, two each from Yavatmal, Akola and Washim while one each in Buldhana and Wardha district. They were identified as: Prabhakar Savai of Kalamla village, Suresh Banapure, Nandgaonpeth, Pawan Sadhashiv of Khushta village (all in Amravati), Ganesh Tike of Masani, Shriram Jelas of Pohradevi (both in Washim), Sakharam Choudhary, Jarur, Rahul Chinche (both in Yavatmal), Someshwar Sarkate of Wani-Rambhapur, Santosh Dhandale, Paras (both in Akola) Parmeshwar Bongale of Jamulghat (Chandrapur), Mohan Giri, Manoda (Buldhana) and Ramkrishna Gainar of Rohna village in Wardha district. The Vilasrao Deshmukh government which has been claiming for pumping huge money to stem the on-going crisis, miserably failed to do so even after `implementations' of over Rs 5,000-crore relief packages of PM and state government. The much hyped, Art of Living programme in several villages in the region even could not give much dividends. Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti alleged that most of the farmers were the victims of ongoing loan recovery drive of the banks. "The prime minister's package made it clear that the farmers would get at least one-year moratorium on recovery of loans. However, all banks recovered their loans, virtually forcefully from farmers with the help of state-run cotton marketing cooperative federation during selling their raw cotton. Moreover, banks have also launched their loan recovery drive," he further pointed out and said that the agricultural crisis that is forcing them to take such desperate step of coming suicide.Talking to Hindustan Times, SK Goel, the divisional commissioner of Amravati, who has been supervising the relief packages, denied that there was any forcible loan recovery from banks. However, he admitted that the farmers of Vidarbha were facing hardship because of high cost of agro-inputs and meagre price of their produces.

Talking to Hindustan Times, SK Goel, the divisional commissioner of Amravati, who has been supervising the relief packages, denied that there was any forcible loan recovery from banks. However, he admitted that the farmers of Vidarbha were facing hardship because of high cost of agro-inputs and meagre price of their produces.

Sunday, February 25, 2007

A long pending initiative was taken up by the Delhi youth today as they marched in solidarity with farmers over the issue of the ever-growing phenomenon of farmer suicides. The event was marked by symbolic representation of dissent and camaraderie at the same time as the youth donned masks of the cultivators of the nation and both the groups strode to the tune of ‘Jai jawan jai kisan’.The detachment which has long existed between the urban and the rural…between the cultivators and the consumers saw a new light as the youth got together and promised to build a new movement wherein the common masses will truly live to its literal meaning. With a country that is ostensibly celebrating its newfound identity in the globalised world, it is also trying its best to shove its glaring problems and people’s sufferings under the lacy and diabetic garb of a liberal India. It is therefore very important that we make our Frankenstein accountable to us.Taking this initiative a step further, the youth also came out in support of a Zero Hunger Bill to provide subsidy to the economically marginalized sections of the society and the other weaker sections. With the question of social security being a major concern for the Indian society, food being the most basic one, it is only imperative that some proactive action be taken to strengthen the cause of a secure and healthy India.The march assumed a multi dimensional hue with participation from many farmer organisations and samitis under the banner of Kisan Log Abhiyaan. Their enthusiasm and optimism towards the youth initiative was very encouraging and set ground for triggering off a concrete movement headed by the youth and the cultivators.Without being too ambitious and presumptuous about the issue…the youth seeks answers based on two very simple premises:What kind of relief is being sent to the ‘suicide-prone’ areas?If at all any relief is being sent, then why do we see the phenomenon of farmer suicides gathering momentum? (more than 25000 since 1997 and around 150 in the year 2007) What is the Indian government doing to make the annual budget more farmer friendly? If anything towards the same has been done (as is evident from the past numerous five year plans), then why are the farmer suicides on the rise? What is being done centrally to deal with the problem of farmer suicides in the country?

With these basic questions in mind we now pledge to kill the culture of silence, which has enjoyed a parasitical breeding among us and make our system more accountable to us.Police arrested all the people participating in the march and prevented them to proceeed to Parliament, however, two representatives of youth and farmers then went two President's House and handed over a memorandum.All participants were then released.Our initiatives have always proved: We are the change we want to see’ and we plan to maintain this stance.

THE HINDU 26-02-2007New DelhiProtest march against suicides by farmers, SEZsMadhur TankhaActivists demand creation of a Zero Hunger ActNEW DELHI: Members of Youth for Justice, Kisan Log Abhiyan and MCKS Food for Hungry Foundation jointly staged a march at Jantar Mantar here on Sunday protesting against the continuing farmers' suicides.Wearing masks, the protesters holding banners like "The Constitution Guarantees Me Right to Life Yet Death Haunts Me All The Time" shouted slogans against the United Progressive Alliance Government's policies that were leading to lack of livelihood for farmers across the country. They called for a Zero Hunger Act.Claiming that the Haryana Government had sent notices to farmers of Rewari to hand over their agricultural land for Special Economic Zones, Kisan Lok Abhiyan State president Dinesh Joshi said: "We don't mind giving barren land, but parting with fertile agricultural land for big multi-national companies is quite unreasonable."Stating that he had received a notice from the State Government to vacate his agricultural land, Lal Singh Yadav of Haryana said he grows "bajra" and mustard in his 10 acre agricultural land but will now be left with no option but to hand over his ancestral land to the administration. "At least farmers should have the right to decide whether they want to sell their land nor not. And the price paid to us by the administration is pittance."Sharing their concerns, a number of Delhi University students under the Youth for Justice banner marched with the farmers. Stating that they interacted with farmers of Vidarbha, Youth for Justice representative Kapil Mishra said the youth and the farmers had come on a common platform to awaken the Government so that it comes out with a farmer-friendly budget.Demanding separate packages and waving off loans for farmers in all the affected districts, Mr. Mishra said organic farming should be encouraged."Since 1997, over 25,000 farmers across the country have taken their own lives. The worst affected places are Warangal, Amravati, Vidarbha, Karimnagar and Nizamabad. Even though we are boasting of 8 per cent economic growth, the grim fact is that our farmers are committing suicide. This means our policy-makers need to change their approach towards running the economy," said Mr. Mishra.Besides travelling to Vidarbha next week in March for a first hand experience with the situation prevailing in the rural areas, Youth for Justice members will visit Capital's Connaught Place and Ansal Plaza every Sunday to distribute pamphlets to make Generation X aware of the farmers' plight.http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/26/stories/2007022620640300.htmsome glimpsesof jointmarch

Saturday, February 24, 2007

59th year of Indian independence…and yet another budget. Cliché as it may sound, the Indian farmer still remains the most deprived section of a country, which chooses to don the mask of democracy; ironical for a nation whose constituency largely consists of farmers and an agriculture based economy.And now this marginalized lot chooses to voice its disquiet by killing itself and wiping out its very existence. Factors like indebtedness, lack of post harvest infrastructure, inattention on the part of government authorities, lack of livelihood security are only some of the many causes provoking the Indian farmer to take his life. Since the year 1997, more than 25000 farmers have already taken their life towards what has unfortunately become their only salvation.As everything else, this issue was again treated as an ‘uncalled for’ disaster and a prime minister’s relief fund was announced promising a fund of 3,753 crores to the affected areas. The funds are yet to reach and where they have, it is yet to be seen to what effect have they rescued the farmer from his vicious circle of misery.One has to question the existence of the phenomenon of farmer suicides in the face of a country that is still happily basking in the so called success of the green revolution and five year plans that have ostensibly sought to improve the condition of the Indian agriculture and its cultivators.With such a calamity going unnoticed and undisputed by the common masses, we as a nation are only heading towards a disastrous future.YOUTH FOR JUSTICE has taken an initiative to integrate the urban youth with the causes of the Indian farmer and bridge this glaring gap, which feeds our ignorance and silence over this issue.Towards building a mass movement for our farmer brothers, the youth and the farmers come together for a joint march on the 25th of February, 2007 at Jantar Mantar, 12: 30 pm to raise questions on the comfortable silence of the government and the common people and the supposed relief packages that are going to the suicide prone areas.As an important participant in forwarding causes of such major and immediate concerns we invite you to take part in this cause and redeem the belief that if we all come together we can certainly make a difference.

Monday, February 19, 2007

1.The state government which has been claiming for pumping huge money to prevent on-going farmers' suicide, however, miserably failed to do so even after implementation of two massive economic packages of state and union government. The Art of Living of religious Guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar had also tried to spread the spiritual mantra to the poor farmers. Unfortunately none of them could stem the tide of suicide.

2.The farmer-son duo, Shyamrao and Vinod Kinake had ended their lives by consuming poison at their Umri house on Saturday evening. They were worried for the marriage of Jyoti, the young daughter of Shyamrao

3.The farmers used to get Rs 2,500 per quintal two year ago while the rate of raw cotton has been slashed down to just Rs 1700 per quintal this year. "It is very difficult for the farmers to replay the loans and support their families' whole year with this meagre money and hence the distress farmers are being compelled to take such extreme step.

Nagpur, February 18, 2007Even after the massive economic packages of state and union governments, the farmers' suicide continues in the backward Vidarbha region! Nine more crisis-ridden farmers, including a father-son duo, have ended their lives in last 72 hours in the region. According to reports reaching here on Sunday, all the farmers, who have taken the drastic step, were from suicide-prone districts of western Vidarbha---- Yavatmal, Buldhana, Washim, Amravati and Wardha. Four farmers who committed suicide were from Yavatmal, two were from Wardha while one each from Amravati, Buldhana and Washim, informed Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti, who has been documenting the suicides since 2001. With the deaths of 9 more farmers, the toll touched 50 this month while the figure reached to 120 since January this year. The latest victims were identified as : Shyamrao Kinake of Umri village, Vinod Kinake, Umri, Nilkant Gurnule of Wedasi, Ashok Kolar of Palsoni (all in Yavatmal district), Baba Chikate of Sawli-Wagh, Vinayak Ade, Sakhra (both in Wardha), Tapaji Koradkar of Shirala (Buldhana), Ramrao Gangawane, Depul (Washim) and Bapurao Gaigole of Dhanegaon in Amravati district. The farmer-son duo, Shyamrao and Vinod Kinake had ended their lives by consuming poison at their Umri house on Saturday evening. They were worried for the marriage of Jyoti, the young daughter of Shyamrao. It was difficult for them to solemnize the marriage due to non-availability of remunerative price of raw cotton. When they failed to raise the money and convinced that they would not get financial support from anyone, they decided to end their lives, the reports said. The former Shetkari Sanghatana leader, Vijay Jawandhia felt that the crisis had worsened in recent times because of meagre rate of raw cotton, fixed by the government. The farmers used to get Rs 2,500 per quintal two year ago while the rate of raw cotton has been slashed down to just Rs 1700 per quintal this year. "It is very difficult for the farmers to replay the loans and support their families' whole year with this meagre money and hence the distress farmers are being compelled to take such extreme step. The government refuses to consider the plight of farmers arising of non-availability of remunerative prices of their product and the high cost of agro-inputs," he pointed out. Similar deaths were also witnessed last year when Sanjay Kalaskar, a 25-year young farmer of Vegaon in Yavatmal district ended his life because of mounting debts and crop failure. His father, Babanrao had committed suicide due to same reasons in 2005. The state government which has been claiming for pumping huge money to prevent on-going farmers' suicide, however, miserably failed to do so even after implementation of two massive economic packages of state and union government. The Art of Living of religious Guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar had also tried to spread the spiritual mantra to the poor farmers. Unfortunately none of them could stem the tide of suicide. Email Pradip Kumar Maitra: pradipmaitra@hindustantimes.com

Very young farmer manoj vithal lamture(22) today jumped in to well commit suicide in village bhadumri (yavatmal) along with to other two farmers ramesh nilkanth dehankar of village patapangara in same yavtmal distt and sanjay digamber kharate of village kenwad in washim distt. Has ended lives when union agriculture secretary is reviewing the progress prime minister package for vidarbha cotton farmers declared in July 2006 .these three suicides has taken toll of suicides 110 in 45 days of 2007 as more than 1400 farm suicides inyear 2006 are reported by state govt. as their website display, kishor tiwari of vidarbha Jan andolan samiti informed in press release today.Manoj lamture was fed with continuous crop failure and huge debt in the name his father vithal and very high cot medical care of his mother kusumbai. he is third victim of vidarbha agrarian crisis in this bhadumri village as earlier dhyaneshwar bhandare and anil shende two very young farmers committed suicide in year 2006

MASS PROTEST OF GOVT. APATHYAfter today's manoj lamture's suicide has ,there was there was spontaneous protest of farmers and one donkey was brought and photo of maharashtra chief minister vilasrao deshmukh and union mini agriculture sharad pawar was fixed on the side of his donkey and farmers worshiped this donkey and empty box vidarbha relief was burnt amidst slogan shouting against chief minister and union agriculture Minister .such type protest are common now days as such daily three –four farm suicides are common but nobody in power or apposition is even ready to look at pathetic condition of poor vidarbha farmers.Distress farmers are demanding that union agriculture minister sharad pawar should to spare some time from cricket to protect vidarbha farmers .

Main demands of vidarbha are

1.complete loan waiver2.Rs.3000 per quintal minimum support price (MSP)3.Ban on imported cotton seed and imported raw cotton4.Special package for non-chemical farming5.Restoretion of health care, employment, educational support systems in rural vidarbha which has also became main factor of farm suicides now adays .

Farmers expecting reflection of some demand being fulfilled in next central govt. budget but farm activist are not hopeful as they no there is no place for such demands incontext WTO & world bank treaties and hostile agreements., kishor tiwari added.

Thursday, February 8, 2007

MCKS Food for Hungry Foundation and Youth for justice join hands against farmers’ suicides and for zero hunger bill

MCKS Food for Hungry Foundation and Youth for Justice staged a solidarity march for the recent farmer’s suicides as part of their campaign against farmer’s suicides and for zero hunger bill in New Delhi on 4th Febuary 2007.People from all walks of life were present at the occasion. The event had a very profound discussion on the issue of hunger, farmer’s suicide and zero hunger bill. The people present sang songs in solidarity of the farmers who committed suicide and also lit candles. The groups discussed the agenda of the future and planned to do a massive rally on the 25th of February. The Managing Trustee, Shakun Goyal, said “Through this Campaign, we hope to make a visible dent in the huge attempt to eliminate hunger and starvation. We seek to enable and empower those helpless and vulnerable men, women and children to lead a quality life with pride, dignity and self-respect.” Mr. Kapil Mishra, representative, Youth for Justice said, “Reports of India’s abysmal performance in ensuring food security is filtering in. It’s been almost 60 years since India became independent and started to tread along the path of development and modernization. Yet, millions of Indians still go to bed hungry every night. We have pledged today to fight against farmer’s suicides and to bring out zero hunger bill in the country.” Established in 2004 and inspired by Master Choa Kok Sui’s vision of a hunger-and-poverty free world, the MCKS Food for Foundation has committed itself to feeding people and assisting people to secure sustaining solutions to food and livelihood security. As part of its commitment to fight hunger, MCKSFFH is seeking to generate awareness about the issue of hunger through public campaigns and taking positive action against hunger. The Foundation attempts to bring about an effective legislation to be called “zero hunger bill” that would provide a security-net for the disadvantaged sections Youth for justice is a Delhi-based youth action group, which works on spontaneous issues that need cognizance. As a youth it rose against the unfair judicial announcement favouring the rich and powerful by mobilizing concern citizens and making the invisible disquiet a visible one (the Jessica Lall verdict). The group was started in Feb. 2005.WATCH VIDEO FOOTAGE OF OUR SMALL INITIATIVE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYCZcPfgEPg